Microsoft Opens Up Beta Development
The days of waiting six months for a new Windows beta release are over, Microsoft declared at PDC 2005 in Los Angeles. Learning from its community technology preview (CTP) programs, the company will issue monthly test releases of Windows Vista moving forward.
The intention of more frequent updates is to bring beta testers "into the kitchen," Windows lead product manager Greg Sullivan explained to BetaNews. In turn, Microsoft will be able to solicit additional feedback throughout the Windows development process and more quickly address bugs that hinder ongoing testing.
Transparency is the heart of this new development paradigm, and is also a key part of the changing culture within Microsoft. No longer do users encounter a faceless corporation; they interact directly with Redmond employees though Web logs and message boards, providing feedback in real time to those who need it.
The approach has already been employed at Microsoft for smaller betas and proved a resounding success, officials say. As delays pushed back beta releases of Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 last year, Microsoft answered calls from developers for new bits by issuing these CTP builds.
Earlier this year, Microsoft released a CTP of Acrylic, the graphics design program that resides within the company's new Expression product family. Message boards were opened up for users to comment and Microsoft dedicated employees to reading the responses.
In turn, a second Acrylic CTP released in August was greatly improved as a result of the feedback. Microsoft also plans to soon release preview builds of Sparkle and Quartz, the other Expression titles.
A September CTP of Windows Vista was issued this week and is now available to beta testers and MSDN Subscribers. An October release will feature the new Windows Sidebar for the first time. But Microsoft's Sullivan conceded to BetaNews that monthly builds are a target - not a guarantee.
Sullivan warned against calling the Vista interim releases "beta" as they will not be up to the quality of the standard beta milestones. He also said Microsoft may frequently remove or add features depending on their level of readiness, and users should not read too much into such changes.
"You'll see things reappear and disappear," Sullivan noted.
Monthly Windows Vista builds won't only improve the development process - they could additionally prove valuable from a marketing standpoint. More releases means more press coverage for Vista, which is crucial to getting developers and end-users alike hyped on the upgrade.
And if all goes well, other Microsoft products are likely to follow suit with their own CTP programs, including Longhorn Server and Office 12.